Monument Upsets PHS with Big Fourth Quarter

GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. -- The normally potent offense of the Pittsfield girls' basketball team failed to show up on Thursday night, allowing Monument Mountain to earn a 39-29 upset win at home.

The Generals (7-3) had been averaging 55 points per game coming into Thursday's contest, but the Spartans (4-4) clamped down on the defensive end, holding Pittsfield to just two 3-pointers the entire game. Monument held an 18-16 lead at the half, but Joe Racicot's squad rallied back to earn a two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter.

That's when the hosts took over, outscoring the Generals 15-3 over the final quarter to snap Pittsfield's four-game winning streak.

"We were plagued by an 8 for 57 shooting night from the floor," Racicot said. "We could not hold on to a two-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, and Monument was able to go on a run and seal the victory."

Vanessa Troiano hit a pair of threes on her way to a game-high 16 points for the Spartans, while teammate Kayla Aberdale chipped in with seven. Courtney McLaughlin paced Pittsfield's offense with 12 points and six rebounds. No other Generals' player scored more than four points on the night.

Pittsfield returns to action on Saturday with a game against North Division rival Lee at the Coaches vs. Cancer Showcase. The game will be played at Taconic High School at 8 p.m.